in Hen. the Eighth's
time, though not without the loss of some of her fairest manners; and
yet what that king took away in revenues, he added to it in dignity, by
converting it from an abbey into a cathedral church. But the worst
mischief that ever befel it, was that in the late rebellious times,
when the church itself was miserably defaced and spoiled; and all the
lands for the maintenance thereof, quite alienated and sold. And yet
through Gods especial goodness and favour, we have lived to see the one
repaired, the others restored, and the church itself recovering her
antient beauty and lustre again. And that it may thus long continue,
flourish and prosper, and be a nursery for vertue, a seminary for true
religion and piety, a constant preserver of Gods publick worship and
service, and free from all sacrilegious hands, is the earnest and
hearty prayer wherewith I shall conclude this discourse."

[17] Sir William Fitzwilliam, of Milton, to whom the castle then
belonged, used to pay visits to the queen of Scots during her
confinement, and his noble and gentlemanly conduct, secured the
good esteem of Mary. At a later period, a little before the queen
was executed, she presented him with a picture of her son, as a
testimony of the value which she set upon his friendship. This
picture is now in the possession of the Fitzwilliam family.

[18] The original letter, in the king's own hand-writing, is
still in the possession of the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough,
and has recently been placed in a frame by the entrance from the
south aisle. The following is a copy:--"JAMES R. Trusty and
wel-beloved, wee greet you well, for that wee remember it
appertaynes to ye duty wee owe to our dearest mother that like
honour should be done to hir body and like monument be extant of
hir as to others, hirs and our progenitors have bene used to be
done, and ourselves have already performed to our deare sister ye
late Queen Elizabeth. Wee have commanded a Memoriall of hir to be
made in our church of Westminster, ye place where ye Kings and
Queens of this realme are usually interred. And for that wee
thinke it inconvenient that ye monument and hir body should be in
severall places, we have ordered that hir said body remayning now
interred in that our Cathedrall Church of Peterborough shalbe
removed to Wes